Airborne 08.18.17

Pilot Was Able To Walk Away From The Off-Airport Forced Landing

The NTSB has released a preliminary report from an accident which occurred in Tupelo, MS July 20 involving an A36 Bonanza. The pilot was able to walk away from the forced landing in a field near the airport.

According to the report, 0n July 20, 2013, about 1309 eastern daylight time, a Beech A36, N117HB, experienced a total loss of engine power while on approach for landing at Tupelo Regional Airport (TUP), Tupelo, Mississippi. The pilot subsequently made a forced landing impacting the ground prior to the intended landing runway. The private pilot sustained minor injuries. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing and forward portion of the fuselage. The airplane was registered to and operated by a private individual under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan had been filed for the flight that originated from Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport (BHM), Birmingham, Alabama about 1200.

According to the pilot, he had departed TUP earlier in the day and flew direct to BHM. When returning to TUP, while on final approach to runway 18, the engine lost power about 600 feet above ground level. The airplane impacted the ground in an off airport open field, bounced back into the air, crossed a road, and landed inside the airport perimeter fence. Once the airplane came to rest, the pilot turned the ignition switch to “OFF” and exited the airplane.

According to first responders, the fuel selector valve was selected to the left fuel tank position and fuel was observed leaking from the left wing. According to photographs provided by the airport authority, blue fluid was evident on the underside of the left wing and the left wing’s flap.

According to fuel records, on June 30, 2013, the airplane was fueled with 40.3 gallons of aviation fuel.

Initial examination by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed that the airplane came to rest approximately 1400 feet prior to the beginning of the displaced threshold for runway 18. The initial impact location was approximately 800 feet prior to where the airplane had come to rest.